The Passion of an Olympic Athlete

Will Michael Phelps pass Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina's 18 medals and become the most decorated Olympian in history? Will he take back the role of America's Best Swimmer? The world will be watching Phelps this month at the Olympic Games in London, England to see if he has what it takes.

Earlier this spring, Phelps told the Baltimore Sun that he was burned out after winning eight gold medals in Beijing. As a result, his training suffered as he struggled to find the motivation to keep going. Says Phelps, "The last couple of years my training hasn't been great, but I've recently been able to get the excitement back in the water. It's going to be a fun summer." Swimming fans certainly hope so. Phelps' 16 Olympic medals are two short of Latynina's record. If he pulls it off, and becomes the new record holder for the most medals, Ray Lewis, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens probably deserves some of the credit.

Phelps, a native of Baltimore and a big Ravens fan, has become a close friend of Ray Lewis' and a familiar sight at M&T bank Stadium when the Ravens play at home. Listening to Lewis' pep talks and seeing the passion that Ray Lewis still has for his sport - even after 16 seasons - helped Phelps rediscover his passion for swimming. Ray Lewis has the reputation for motivating his team on the field and other teams off the field. Here's a glimpse into Lewis' ability to inspire.

Passion isn't something that can be taught. It is innate - something that a person develops over time. It is possible to be inspired by passion - experiencing Ray Lewis' passion reinvigorated Phelps desire to be the best swimmer that he can be - but if Phelps wasn't passionate about swimming, no amount of convincing or lecturing would change it. "I have goals that I want to accomplish," Phelps said. "I know it won't be eight medals again. I'm going out there to accomplish the things I have in my mind and my heart. If I can do that and have fun, that's all that matters to me." .

If we at Ty Boyd, Inc., could enforce one public speaking rule it would be: never speak about anything with which you have no passion. You may have the world's most important message, but if you deliver it without energy, without passion, it falls on deaf ears. The same thing applies to Olympic athletes: their energy and drive comes from their passion for the sport.

Phelps has proven in the past that he has the ability to harness his passion. He has found that thing that gets his blood pumping, that thing that he wants to share with the world. And the world will be watching, once again, to see him feed his passion in London.